- The court ruled that Amazon can be sued for negligence, finding it has a legal "duty of care" to prevent foreseeable harm from products sold on its platform, even when misused by consumers.
- Lawsuits allege Amazon sold high-concentration sodium nitrite to individuals who later died by suicide and that its algorithm recommended bundling it with items like scales and anti-vomiting medication, creating "veritable suicide kits."
- Sodium nitrite in high concentrations is a powerful toxin; ingesting small amounts can rapidly cause oxygen deprivation (methemoglobinemia), leading to organ failure and death.
- The ruling challenges Amazon's defense as a neutral platform, treating it as a seller. This follows Amazon's own policy changes to restrict and later ban high-concentration sales and a new Washington state law ("Tyler's Law") restricting such sales.
- The decision allows the lawsuits to move forward, where a jury must decide if Amazon knew or should have known the foreseeable risks of selling the pure chemical directly to consumers.
In a landmark decision that challenges the liability shield of e-commerce giants, the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that Amazon must face lawsuits alleging its sale of a high-concentration chemical contributed to the suicides of multiple individuals, including teenagers.
The Feb. 19 ruling revives a high-stakes legal battle, asserting that the online retailer has a duty to prevent foreseeable harm from products sold on its platform, even when those products are misused by consumers. The court's unanimous decision overturned a lower appellate court's dismissal, clearing the way for the families and estates of four deceased individuals to proceed with negligence claims against Amazon.
The central question was whether Amazon, as a seller, owed a legal duty to exercise reasonable care. The state's highest court concluded it does, stating that Amazon must avoid foreseeable harm from selling sodium nitrite and from the conduct of third parties on its marketplace.
The plaintiffs allege that between April 2020 and May 2021, their loved ones—aged 17, 18, 19 and 27—died after ingesting high-purity sodium nitrite purchased from Amazon. They argue the deaths were a foreseeable consequence of Amazon's actions, a point the court said must be decided by a jury.
What is sodium nitrite?
Sodium nitrite is a salt historically used for preserving meats like bacon and ham, approved by federal food safety agencies in regulated, low concentrations. In its pure, concentrated form, it is a powerful chemical used primarily as a preservative and coloring agent in processed meats like bacon and jerky, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch.
The decentralized engine adds that it is also employed in industrial applications, such as in analytical chemistry. While it extends shelf life, it poses significant health risks.
When ingested in amounts as small as 3 to 5 grams, it binds to hemoglobin in the blood more strongly than oxygen, causing a condition called methemoglobinemia. This leads to hypoxia, where vital organs are starved of oxygen, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain, and trouble breathing and can rapidly lead to collapse and death.
The lawsuits contain a more disturbing charge: that Amazon's platform didn't just sell the chemical but actively facilitated its misuse. Plaintiffs contend the website's algorithm recommended pairing high-concentration sodium nitrite with other products useful for suicide, such as small scales, anti-vomiting medication and a suicide instruction manual sold as an "Amazon Edition." This bundling, they argue, effectively created "veritable suicide kits."
Furthermore, the families allege Amazon was aware of the problem for years. They claim one-star reviews from grieving relatives, warning that the product was being used for suicide, were deleted.
They also cite discussions on online forums where users referred to Amazon by a code name, "the jungle," as a source for the chemical. Attorney Carrie Goldberg, representing 28 affected families, stated other major retailers like eBay, Walmart and Etsy removed the product years earlier upon recognizing the risk.
Amazon's algorithm of death
Amazon has expressed condolences but maintains its commitment to customer safety. The company argues sodium nitrite is a legal, widely available product used for food preservation and industrial purposes and that any product can be misused. It asserted the danger was "obvious or known" to the purchasers, attempting to deflect liability.
However, the company's own policies have shifted. In October 2022, it restricted sales of high-concentration sodium nitrite to verified "Amazon Business" commercial accounts. By November 2025, it prohibited sales of the chemical in concentrations above 10% entirely. The plaintiffs see these changes as an implicit acknowledgment of the risk that existed when their family members made their purchases.
This ruling is significant because it pierces a common defense used by online marketplaces: that they are merely platforms connecting third-party sellers and buyers, not traditional "sellers" themselves. The Washington court treated Amazon's role in warehousing, shipping and processing payments for the sodium nitrite as that of a seller, subject to standard product liability principles.
In a concurring opinion, Chief Justice Steven González emphasized the unique power of Amazon's platform. He wrote that if the allegations about algorithmic product bundling are proven, there is little distinction between curating a "suicide kit" online and assembling one on a physical store shelf, potentially indicating reckless or intentional behavior.
This case emerges against a backdrop of rising concern over sodium nitrite suicides, particularly among young people. Research presented at a 2025 pediatrics conference highlighted an increasing reliance on the chemical, easily purchased online, as a suicide method. This public health crisis prompted Washington state lawmakers to pass "Tyler's Law" in 2024, named for a 15-year-old victim, which legally restricts sales of high-concentration sodium nitrite to verified commercial entities.
The Supreme Court's decision does not find Amazon liable. It merely determines that the families have presented enough factual allegations to warrant a trial. The outcome could hinge on proving Amazon knew or should have known the foreseeable risks of selling 98% to 99% pure sodium nitrite directly to consumers.
The Washington Supreme Court's ruling marks a pivotal moment in defining the responsibilities of digital marketplaces. As this case moves toward trial, it sends a clear message to the tech industry: claiming neutrality as a platform may not absolve companies from the consequences of the products they distribute and the systems they design.
Red meat doesn't cause cancer—it's the sodium nitrite. Watch this video.
This video is from the Newstarget channel on Brighteon.com.
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